Warehouse plan would create 2,000 jobs

Sam Cooper

Plans to build two new warehouses in Knottingley - which could create 2,000 jobs - are expected to be approved by council bosses tomorrow (Thursday).

Wakefield Council’s planning and highways committee is expected to approve plans for the CrossPoint Wakefield development, on land off junction 33 of the M62 at a meeting.

Discount retailer TK Maxx will operate one of the sites and if approved, developer Caddick Construction says the build is expected to be complete by next summer.

Coun Denise Jeffery, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is a terrific opportunity and is a massive boost for the Five Towns and in particular the Knottingley area.

“It really will make a difference to the area and is proof of how important it is to work with the private sector to create wealth and jobs for our district.”

But homeowners, living on Grovehall Lane right next to the site, claim they could be forced out of their homes as part of the plans.

Mum-of-three Julie Daskalaki says the warehouses will be built on the site of her family home.

Mrs Daskalaki, 38, said: “We’ve got nothing against the development and creating jobs for the area but nobody has told us what is going to happen to our home.

“It’s just a nightmare - that’s the only word to describe it. We just feel as though we have been cast aside and they don’t seem to care about us.”

“We feel like our basic rights have been taken away from us and we are living in limbo about what the future will bring. The best we can wish for is that they don’t do anything with our homes and then we’re going to be living in the middle of an industrial estate with 18 lorries coming and going every five minutes.”

Myles Harley, managing director of Caddick Construction, said: “Cross Point Wakefield is an exciting development which will deliver huge investment and employment opportunities to the area.

“We have listened very carefully to comments made and as a result have introduced a number of changes and improvements to the scheme in direct response to concerns raised by the neighbouring properties.”

For more information on the scheme visit www.crosspointwakefield.co.uk